If you are looking for one of the most exciting tourist destinations in the world, look no further than Sydney in Australia.
Not only does this dream destination have elegant museums and its share of rustic galleries, but it also has plenty of nature parks for those that enjoy the outdoors, plenty of shopping districts for those who enjoy spending their cash, and an array of restaurants for the foodies among you.
If this is your first-time visiting Sydney, we’ve got all the tips you need so that your trip can be everything you ever dreamed of.
Plan Your Sydney Trip and Travel in Advance
Like any trip, it is very important to plan the details of your itinerary in advance – everything from air travel (which can get quite expensive), to the details of your budget, to what you are interested in doing while in Sydney.
By managing your trip in advance, you can ensure that you will get a better bang for your buck and that you can experience as many things as you can possibly fit into your schedule.
Allow Extra Time for Travel When You Arrive in Sydney
Like any big city, Sydney is huge, and it can take a significant amount of time – especially when on public transport – to get from place to place, given that the transportation does not always run like clockwork.
As a result, we suggest budgeting extra time for travel in the event that you run behind schedule if your needed mode of transportation does not arrive on time, you have to resort to walking, or you get stuck in traffic.
If you do plan on using public transportation to move about, we suggest considering using luggage storage in Sydney so as to avoid carrying around too many items with you as you move about the city.
Ride the Sydney Ferry
Along with taking public transport or taxis, another great way to get around is to use the available ferries as they too are a commonly used mode of public transportation among the locals.
Not only is riding the ferry a cheap and fast alternative, but it is also a fun option, given that you can take in the harbor views as you travel.
If this is a mode of travel that you prefer, note that you can pay for ferry travel using the Opal card, and depending on the duration of your trip, you can either put a daily or weekly credit on your card.
Use the Local Taxi App Instead of Hailing Taxis
Another great suggestion while moving about Sydney is to consider using the city’s local taxi app – not only does this app help you immediately book your mode of transportation, but it also helps you avoid standing in the middle of rush hour struggling to hail down a taxi.
The extra bonus is that, unlike most other taxis, the ones on this particular app are actually much cheaper.
Move Around Early in Sydney
Like many cities, Sydney gets going and moving pretty early on, and as a result, it is wise to begin moving about the city as early as possible in your day.
Given that the sun rises pretty early in the day, most people are already starting to move about by 7 AM.
We recommend getting an early start to your day – in part because it allows you to squeeze in as much sightseeing as possible, but also because many restaurants and bars tend to close pretty early on in the evening.
In fact, many visitors complain that sometimes, bars and pubs aren’t open beyond 10.30 PM.
Take Advantage of Free Museum Visits
When traveling, the costs of visiting a new place can seriously start to accumulate.
A quick and easy solution to avoid overspending is to make use of any free options the city has to offer.
One of the benefits of Sydney is that it gives tourists a range of art galleries to choose from that are free and also profile the work of new artists and professionals.
If you do decide to take advantage of these free museum visits, just be sure to arrive extra early – and we literally mean to make your way over to these galleries early in the morning – to avoid waiting in line and being booted out when they close at the midday point.
WiFi Hassles
As travelers, while you may be visiting a cool place abroad, you may still have to check in with friends and family who are still at home from time to time.
A great way to do so is by using Wifi. Unfortunately, while Sydney is great, it has rather limited use of WiFi, and as a result, if you do need to make use of this resource to keep on a tight budget, try to go to cafes, gardens, and train stations where you will likely find access to WiFi.
You should also be sure to ask your hotel concierge if they offer WiFi for free as well – whether that be in your hotel room or in the lobby.